At first glance, Buffalo is a gray city with extreme snowstorms, a polluted waterfront, and racial segregation and violence. Although I can't deny that these things are true, there's a lot more to love about Buffalo. The culture and connection that exists in the Buffalo area is very unique, and one that I haven't experienced in any other city.
Growing up in the Buffalo area, the city itself was intimidating compared to the small suburban town where I lived. The confusing highways, giant buildings, and dense streets made me scared to venture and experience the city. Anytime my parents took me downtown, we’d go to our destination and not stray very far. If we had tickets to see a show at the theater, we parked as close as possible to avoid dilly-dallying in the streets. I’m guessing that this mindset of fear or uncertainty in the city came from knowing about the severe violence in Buffalo’s past. There was always a story of crime or tragedy on the local news, and downtown was thought of as a dangerous place.
Now that I’m older, I’ve spent more time exploring Buffalo as a city. It has a lot more to offer than I would’ve thought, and others would think the same. From the Shea’s theater, to Buffalo Bills games, to Niagara Falls, there’s a plethora of things to do. Just when I expect that I’ve exhausted the list of Buffalo “must-do’s,” I find something new to experience. It also contains a couple of homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, a renowned architect from the turn of the 20th century. I personally haven’t visited them, but I certainly will this summer with my growing interest in architecture and sustainable development.
From a city design standpoint, Buffalo could definitely use some upgrades. It was at its peak of development in the early 1900s as a major point of trade and industrialization. The development of the Ford plant and the Electric Tower, powered by Niagara Falls’ hydroelectric power, were major steps at the turn of the century. Now, a lot of these structures and advancements have lost their momentum. Abandoned factories scatter the waterfront, and buildings are beginning to crumble. To me, the biggest drawback is that a major highway passes along the entire waterfront, making development to foster a stronger sense of community activity very difficult. However, small improvements are being made to restructure the city to match the needs of the current population. Aside from the city development, Buffalo’s sense of unity remains strong.
What makes Buffalo particularly unique is its tight knit sense of community and culture. The influence of the city travels far outside its boundaries, to the suburbs and beyond. You’d find plenty of passionate Buffalo Bills fans with a Tim Hortons coffee in hand, shoveling snow from their own and their neighbor’s driveways. After warming up inside, a true Buffalonain would order a local Buffalo pizza with chicken wings and blue cheese, an ice cold Loganberry to drink, and end off the meal with Sponge Candy for dessert. To a non-Buffalonian, none of these activities would have any significance or sense. But to a Buffalonian, this is a regular and comforting experience.
My appreciation for Buffalo and its rich culture significantly grew after I left for college. I didn’t realize how the “city of good neighbors” lived up to its name until I didn’t have it anymore. From living in both Binghamton, New York and Ithaca, I’ve realized how different the cultures of Upstate New York “cities” can really be. Maybe I’m biased because it’s where I grew up, but I’ve never quite experienced a real snowstorm, delicious chicken wings, or kindness between people like I have in Buffalo. I always look forward to the comfort of being in my home city, and I hope that others can appreciate what Buffalo has to offer too.
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